Bag-opening machine



Aug. 7, 1923. j

' o. N. RIITCHIE ET AL BAG OPENING MACHINL Filed June l0 1922 T T ORNE KS O. N. IRITCHIE ET AL Aug. 7, i923. I

BAG OPENING MACHINE Fild June l0.

Aug. 7, w23. y y 11,463,842

GIN. RlTCHlE ET AL.

BAG OPENING MACHINE Filed June 10, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 y "Y ATTORNEYS atented Aug. 7, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT' oFFlcE.

OSCAR N. RITCHIE, 0F HAMILTON, AND HERBERT C. BOYKIN, OIE' MIDDLETOWN, OHIO, .ASSIGNORS TO P. LORILLARD COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A COB/PCBA TION OF NEW JERSEY.

BAG-OPENING' MACHINE.

Application iled June 10, 1922. Serial No. 567,316.

To aZZ whom t may concern.'

Be it known that we, OSCAR N. RITOHIE and I-lnnnnnr C. BOYKIN, both citizens of the United States and residents of Hamilton and Middletown, respectively, in the county of Butler and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bag-Opening Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a bag opening machine, and more particularly to amachine for receiving, opening and delivering bags in succession to; a bag filling mechanism, and has special reference to the provision of an improved. bag opening machine of the type disclosed in the patent to Henderson and Tietz, No. 1,111,899, of September 29, i914. y

In bag opening machines of this type a carrier in the form of a turntable provided with a plurality of spaced bag holders is rotated with each of the holders moved through bag receiving, opening, and delivering` stations, for receiving bags from a feeding means, for opening the same to be filled with a. commodity such as tobacco, and for delivering the same in opened condition to a bag filling mechanism. The turntable is intermittently rotated with each holder successively positioned at each of the said stations. When a holder with a bag therein is positioned at the bag opening station, a bag opening mechanism is moved into cooperative relation with the bag holder and the bag therein, the said bag opening mechanism including a spoon element which is reciprocated towards and from the bag holder and which when moved towards the bag holder enters a bag therein and opens the same. Where uniform bag opening results are desired to be attained, it has been found to be essential that the coerelation between a bag holder and the bag opening spoon be uniform in the operation of the machine, and more particularly that the bag holders be positioned centrally with respect to they bag opening spoon'each time they arrive at the [bag opening station, and thatthe bag opening spoon be so operated as to move into the bag with regularity, at the proper speed and without vibration, the certainty of opening each bag being largely dependent 'upon these factors. When the bag; opening spoon fails in properly entering a bag and opening the same, the bag when advanced to the delivering station is not properly removed by a bag removing mechanism operating at the said delivering station, failure of removal of a bag from a holder resulting in the automatic stopping of the machine, this to prevent the activity of the filling machine in the absence of a bag fed thereto. The prime desideratum of the present invention relates to the provision of an improved bag opening machine in which the bag opening mechanism and its coi-operation with the r0- tatable turntable are improved, so that the bags when successively positioned at the Abag opening station will be opened with cere tainty, and so that the stopping of the machine resulting from improper bag opening activity will be prevented. y 'v The principal objects of the present invention may be said to include, besides the provision of an improved bag opening machine having the characteristics and capable of performing the results above referred to, the further provision of a machine of this nature in which the bag opening mechanism is reciprocated in the vmachine framework carrying the carrier or turntable, and in which the reciprocation of the bag opening mechanism is effected by a driving means journalled in the said framework; the further provision of a bag opening machine of this nature combined with a bag feeding machine, with the parts so arranged that the bag opening mechanism is driven from the bag feeding machine in such manner that the opening spoon will be-reciprocated with regularity and without that vibration incident to prior machines of this type; the further provision of a bag opening machine of this nature in which the turntable is intermittently operated with the holders successively positioned at the operating stations in definite and centered relation with respect to the mechanism at said operating stations: the still further provision of an improved bag opening mechanism operating to effect the full opening of the bag so as to produce 4 uniform results in the advancing of the same To the accomplishment of the foregoing and such other objects as may hereinafter appear, our invention consists in the ele ments and their rela-tion one to the other, as hereinaftery particularly described and sought to be defined in thev claims, reference;

view of the means for moving' the carrier or turntable of the machine` F is front elevational view ofthe machine withy parts shown in section and other parts broken away, and showing the parts at a stage of operation subsequent to the stage depicted in Fig. 2.

Fig'. 5 is /afrag'ment'ary view of the ban; feeding' means. i

F 6 is a rear elevational view of a bag iolder showing' the means for opera-ting the bag gripping devices, and

vFig'. 7 is a plan view of the holder shown in Fie'. 6.,

Referring' now in detail to the drawings,

.the bagl openinefmachine A is associated `with ay ban' feeding' k means generally designated'vas l, the bag' openingl machine'open ating' `for i ceiving from the bag feeding' means, and being' operative for opening' the said bees and de- "'rs liveriiig the sanie to a bar; removing means C, the latter receiving' the bangs individin ally for advancing the saine to a filling mechanism (not shown) where the bags are Afilled with' a con'imodity such as tobacco, and

are .subsequently scaled and packed.

The han; opening' mechanism il.. compi'iss a rotatable carrier or turntable l() rotatablev about a central post a plurality of bag' vholders i, f1?, if, and /lt arranged on the turntable l0 for movement therewith, each of the holders bei j aile to and past plurality` of operatin ,including the bac]receii'ingg` station s', the bag` opening' station s2., an inactive station and a bag deliverii'ip; or removing; sta tion s4t The bag' holders are each rocltably mounted onv the turntable 10, each of the han' hold-y ers beingr movable from an inclined posi` tion, as shown at station s or a2, to a less inclined position, as shown at-'the han' re movingg'station at, and to'thisend each ,of the holders, such as 7i, is provided with a trnnnion platey l2 journalled v`in. opposed bearings such as 13 formed preferably iiite' `gral with the turntable `l() (see i, iarticularly bags individually fedv forming; part of theV `stationary framework ot the machina and Fig. 3), and for rocking each holder in the desiredmannei' there is provided a station arily mounted cani plate l-/lfixed to the framework f of the machine, the cam plate being` provided with a cani groove (see particularly Fig'.` and cooperatingwith the cani groove each of the hagholders is provided with an arm. 1G rprovided at one endwith a cam follower l? movable in tne cani groove l5 and pivoted at its other end to spaced links 18, which in turn are pivoted to the trunnion plate. of the holder. Arranged above the'cam plate let there is provided a locking 'ilate i9 active for conlining'I the levers 16 and for constraining; the cani followers il' to movement within the cam' groove l5. lili/Vith the provision of this construction, it will be seen that upon rotation of the turntable l0 the plurality of holders spaced. thereon will be moved to and past the operating,` stations, and in such m vement the holders will be oscillated from a posit-ion shownat the station s2 to'a position siown at tliestati'on st', the cani groove l5 being` so contoured, as seen in l? 3, as to effect this result.

rl"l`ie turntable lOis given an intermittent motion, with the holders thereon successive-- ly stopped at the operating; stations, and

. for theipurpose of effect-ine' the intermittent rotation of the turntable, there is provided an oscillating' lever 2O fulcruined on the framework y" of the machine, as at 2l, the lower arni of the said lever being connected to a linlr 2Q, by means of the universal joint E23, the link in turn being` connected by means of the universal joint Q-/lftoan ai'ni Q5 oscillatably mounted in a reduced portion Q6 of thegpost .il and held on said post as,`

by means of the washer 27 pinned 'to the post, said rin 25 beingprovided ivitli a pawl 2S, the said paivl being' adapted to suc essively coo ierate with a plurality depending' studs 2 mounted on the said turntable l0. 'Each of the studs 29 coniprises preferably a screw or bolt adjustably received a suitably tapped bore BO in the turntable l0 (see F a), the screw studs being' locked in position on the turntable by means ofthe lock nuts 3l. T he screw studs 29 are in eiliect tooth members cooperatingr with thevpaii'l as shown particularly in Figli, a spring` 32 anchored at one end to the' arm 25 and at the other end to the pawl ("0 icing provided for normally urging' the pawl against a, stop 38 on the said arm and in position to engage with a stud 29 foi' transmitting' motion of the arm 25 to the turntable l0. The link E22 is preferably` made adjustable, and to this ond comprises two rod portions connected together by an adjusting' coupling' 341. lilith the provision of this construction, it will be seen that as the lever 20 is oscillated, the actuating arm will be oscillated to engage the spaced Ulti lli)

studs or teeth 29 successively for effecting the intermittent rotation of the turntable 1() with the holders given alternate periods of rest and movement, and with the holdersy positioned during the periods of rest at the respective operating stations.

1he lever 2O is oscillated from a drive shaft 35 which receives motion from a prime mover connected to the drive shaft through the chain and sprocket 36 and 37, the said drive shaft being provided with a gear 38 meshing with a gear 39 fixed to a shaft 40, and on ythe said shaft 40 there is provided an oppositely positioned gear 41 carrying eccentrically a link 42 which is pivotally connected to the upper arm of the lever 20. With the gear 41'rotating in the direction shown by the arrow in Fig. 1, it will be seen that the lever 20 is rocked or oscillated to effect the desired rotation of the turntable.

When a bag holder such as it is positioned at the bag receiving station s, a bag is fed into the holder by means of the bag feeding mechanism B. Our bag feeding mechanism, which forms the subject-matter of our copending application 467,985, filed May 9, 1921, is shown in part in the figures, the said bag feeding mechanism comprising provisions for successively feeding bags individually from a bag magazine 43, where the bags are arranged in stacked relation, as shown at 44 in Figs. 1 and 2. Theybag feeding means includes a plurality of gripper rollers 45 and 46 journalled in the framework f of the machine, the gripper rollers 45 being mounted in blocks 47 resiliently journalled in the side plates 48 of the machine, as by means of the springs 49. The gripper rollers 45 and 46 receive the bags such as b successively from the magazine 43, and advance these bags to superposed curling rollers 50 and 51 arranged in advance of the gripper rollers, the said curling rollers 50 and 51 being fixed to shafts 52 and 53 also journalled in the side` plates 48, the curling rollers functioning to iron out the longitudinal central portion of a bag b in a manner shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the sideportions of the bag being curled upwardly from the central longitudinal portion thereof,\this so that the bags when received by the holder fz. will lie with the central portion of the bag flat against the rear wall of the holder,

this to facilitate the subsequent bag open-` ing step. For directing and guiding a bag b to the holder h as it isy advanced by the curling rollers, there is provided the direct ing guide 54 arranged above a chute 55 Elpon which the bag falls as it moves from the rollers to the holder 71,. For laterally guiding the bags in this movement, there are provided the side guards or plates 56.

The gripper and curling rollers are ion and a pinion 64 upon the roller shaft 53, the other roller shaft 52 being also provided with a pinion meshing with the pinion 64. The shaft 52 of the upper curlingv roller may also be resiliently mounted in the side plates 48 of the machine in a manner similar to the mounting of the upper gripper rollers, the journals of this shaft being to this end movably arranged in the side plates and urged downwardly resillilpntly by means of the springs 66 (see leior )cooperating with the feeding means to effect individual feeding of bags, and to prevent multiple feeding of the bags, the magazine 43 of our invention is provided with aligning or bag adjusting means operative on the front edge ofthe stack of bags 44, the said bag adjusting means including the superposed cam elements 67 and 68 fixed to shafts 69 and 70 journalled in the opposed bearings 71 and 72, the said cam elements being driven in the direction shown by the arrows in` Fig. 1 by means of the gears 73 and 74, which in turn are driven from the bag feeding means, an idler 75 meshing with gear 73 and the driven pinion 61 being provided toy this end, the idler 76 being provided for communicating motion of the gear 73 to the gear 74. The

bag adjusting cam elements 67 and 68 in their rotation operate upon the front wall of the bag stack 44 for adjusting the bags in the stack to facilitate single bag selection, as described and claimed in our copending application heretofore mentioned, Ser.y No.y

After a bag holder such as 7i receives a bag b from the bag feeding means, the turn table 10 is given a quarter turnso thaty the bag holder and bag assume the position at the bag openingstation s2 ready for the bag opening step. For opening a bag in the holder there is provided a reciprocable bag opening mechanism which moves towards the holder when the latter is positioned at the bag opening station, the said bag opening mechanism including a spoon which enters between the side walls of the bag and forces these walls apart to open the same. The bag opening mechanism preferably comprises a bag opening spoon 77 rotatably mounted on a cross bar 78 and rockable thereon about an axis 79, the spoon 77 being framework of thenniehi.

Y connected to the ba spoon operation being to this end Alixed to a spoon holder 8O provided With trunnions 8l rotatable in bearings S2 forming part of the cross bar 78. The spoon 7"? is curved outwardly at its bottoni end, shown at 833' the said end being adapted to ride on the inside surface oi a rear wall oit the bag', as shown in F 1i, the boe-.v portiou'ot the spoon 'TT being Concaved at its side edges to facilitate bag' openinn'. the spoon being; preferably provided also with a bulge sin". o' Set and beiingnorforced real i-i; the reari1 f bv a spring Se. notion ot the spoon f as it is moved upwardly, the spoon holder is provided with an adjustable screiv loelqefl b v means ot a look nut S67 the screv being adapted to abut m t a stop S17 'i' Ir limiting' the rear vfard motion of: the spoon. Ahe cross bail 78 is guided for reciprocable inotion in the framework ot the niaelune.l and to this end the cross bar TS is provided with integral spaced sleeve portions 8S slidable in` the spaced ouide rods 89 fixed to the stationaryT Upon moveinent ot the cross bar T8 to and troni a holder 72.2 in thedirection as shovvn b v the arrows in Fin'. 2, for e `inple` the lbag` opening' spoon enters a bah opens the saine and reife@ thereironi to permit subsequent rotation ot the turntable ttor advancing; the bag; for removal from 4the holden As heretofore mentioned, Where uniform tained, it has been 4'found to be essential that the eoroiation bet-Ween a holder and the o" opening' spoon be uniiforin in the operaot the machine,` and more parti'culurl v7 the ba: peninp; spoon be so operated Ao the ban; with regularitynat e proper speed and Without that .f'il'iration V.n i to prior inachii. is inalre, the

' shaft -90 journalled inv upstanding' bearings Q'iiied to the'itranieivorlr j'ioili the inaeliiney` one end of' the' shatt earrving` a gear 92. andrtne other end Aot thesaid shaft being' prorided i h a` crank arm connected to a link 912; which in rturn is eonneeted to the opstand' bearing' nortiou termed preti erablv .iinegral with tho cross y 78. Vl `he sl att QO'is driven troni the 'feeding' r:means or the machine7 and to this end the gear Wheel 92 is arrenged to mesh with the driven gear 78 heretofore mentioned. lThe actua- 4ion `or driif'ing of the spoon 77 is suitabl5T synchronized With the movementot' the turntable l0,v so that the opening spoon 77 is given a complete cycle of movement in tl time that the turntable l() is given a ,tu quarter turn with a holder passing throng a tull period of moveinent and dwell. lilith the provision of this means4 We have found that the desired speed ot movement is iinparted to the opening` spoon 77,'and that the saine is moved with the regularifvr and i' "Aioothness essential for e'liicient service.

ln addition to regulating' ine` operation of the ojeninp'spoon '77, it is furthermore highljT desirable, Where uniform bag opening' .is desired heretofore inentioned, that the bag holders be positionedfcentralljvT with respect to the bag; opening spoon each time they arrive at the han' opening` station; and to the provision vthis end the invention includes ot ineans for stopping' the turntable with the holders deiinitely located in a central position with respect to the opening spoon Y?. For this purpose there are provided a plurality oit balls 96 inovable in thebores 30 in the turntable l0 and urged-upwardly by oit springs 97 housed in the said bores, the balls cooperating' with spaced` soelrets 9S spacedlj,T arrangedat 90C apart in the cani plate le. the cooperation oit these parts et teetingithe more deinite positioning oit theL ti'irntable 10 `With the holders at the respec.

tive operating stations. i For the purpose ot taking up the Wear of these parte, and tor the more certain positioning of the holders in their desired locations, the invention iturther includes the-provision oic positive stop ineens comprising; a stop rod 99'tixed to the hub 2l of: the oscillating lever 2th the said stop rod 99 upon oscillation oit the lever 20 grec/liable. into and out of: the path of niovenient ot the bag holders, the arrangeoil parts and operation being' suchthat the stop rod 99 is moved out of the said path of' niovenient when a holder is to bel advanced in one station tothe next succeeding' sta# tion and is `moved into` the said path oit movement When a holder is approae1 ing' the bag' opening' station s2; As vie Wed in Figure 2 of the drawings and in dotted lines in lTi l', the bag' holders have just completed the period ot movement. the stop rod 99 Co-acting; with a side Wall ot 'the holder /LZ for stopping' the saine in the desired centralized position. lt will be. apparent viewing Fig.

l that in the further rotation ott-he gear el;

the lever 2O is oscillated to bring the pavvl 28 into contacting engagement with the next stud tooth. 29, and that during;` this motion the stop rod 99 is moved upvvardlv out yot the path oicniovernent ot the holder 7b2 to permit subsequent operation of the turntable and rotation of the holders.

For eieeting a full opening ot a bag i5, the

bag opening spoon 77, after it has partially entered a bag as shown in Fig. d of the drawings, is given a quick angular rotation about its axis 79, this for the purpose of yimparting a final kick to the bag, so that the front and rear walls of the bag will assume the separated condition desired for a fully opened bag. To these ends, the spoon holder 80 is provided with a roller or cam follower 100 rotatable on a shaft 101 fixed to the spoon holder 80; and arranged in the path of movement of the said cam follower 100 there is provided a cam track 102 fixed to a plate 102 and mounted on the stationary framework f of the machine. As seen in Fig. t, before the spoon 77 has fully entered the bag b, the cam follower 100 is engaged by and rides upon the cam track 102, the cooperation of these parts producing a quick angular movement in the spoon 77 and im parting the desired kick for fully opening the bag. n For maintaining the bag in opened condition after the same has been operated upon by the bag opening mechanism, there .is provided a gripping means active for gripping the side edges of a bag b after the same has been opened. To these ends eaehof the bag holders is provided with bag gripping elements or fingers movable to and from the -side edges of the bags for engaging the same during bag opening, and for releasing the same during bag removal. Each bag holder such as h. (see for example Figs. 6 and 7) is provided with the bell crank levers 103 and 104 rockably mounted onthe rear wall 105 of the holder, as at 106 and 107 respectively, the upper arms of the said bell crank levers being provided w-ith gripping elements or ngers 108 and 109 respectively, the said' gripping lingers having suitable cut-out portions or notches 110 and 111 for receiving the side edges of a bag b, as shown in Fig. 7 when the gripping lingers are moved towards each other during opening of the bag. For moving the gripper fingers and the bell crank levers, there is provided a` slide bar 112 provided at its bottom end with the spaced pins 113 and 114C received by the elongated notches 115 yand 116 in the lower` arms of the bell' cranks 103 and 104, the upper end of the slidebar 112 being connected to an actuating shaft 117 by means of an arm 118 (see for example Fig. 4e), xed to the said shaft and pivotally connected to the slide bar 112, the said shaft 117 beinO' journalled in a boss 1 19 forming part of the holder and being oscillatable by means of the reversely arranged actuating levers 120 and 121 pinned to the said shaft. It will be seen from this construction that as the shaft 117 is rocked in opposite directions, the gripper fingers 108 and 109 will be moved towards and away from each other to grip and release the bag b. For the purpose of resiliently maintaining the gripper lingers in either their inward or outward positions, the slide bar 112 is provided with a spring pressed ball 122 which rides onthe rear wall 105 of the holder to effect resistance to the movement of the gripper fingers, the said ball 122 being urged resiliently against the holder as by means of the spring 123 housed in a casing 124 forming part of the slide bar 112. For retaining a bag in the holder, the holder is provided with the bottom keepers 125 and with the side keepers 126.

For moving the gripper `lingers 108 and 109, towards each other during bag opening, a reciprocable kractuating rod 127 iixed to a bearing 128 forming part of the cross bar sleeve 88 is provided, the construction being such that the gripper actuating arm 120 is arranged in the path of movement of the rod 127 and is moved downwardly upon the descent of the rod and the engagement of the arm 120 by the said rod.

After a bag is opened and grippingly held in opened position, the turntable 10 is given another quarter revolution, so that the bag in the next succeeding holder is arranged, to be opened and so that the bag in the next preceding holder is arranged at the bag removing station s?. The bag Z) is now ready f to be removed from the bag holder such as 71,4 and delivered to bag filling mechanism (not shown). yFor removing the bag the mechanism C is provided, the said mechanismincluding a bag entering member 129 mounted on a block 130 arranged for rotation and reciprocation relativelyV to the framework of the bag opening machine, the bag entering member 129 includin a fixed member 131 and a relatively mova le member 132, the latter member having the upwardly extending arm 133 carrying a roller 134; co-acting with a cam 135 mounted on the reciprocable but non-rotative head frame 136, the cooperation of these parts beingf such that the member 132 is shifted into proximity with the member 131 for bag entering travel in the descent of the latter. The members 131 and 132 enter the opened bag Z) at the station s4, and Lwhen the side edges of the bag are released the walls of the bag adhere to the bag entering members and move therewith in the upward or ascending travel of the latter. As the bag entering members travel into the bag, the gripping lingers 108 and 109 are moved to their outward positions, this being accomplished by the engagement ofthe `actuating arm 121 by meansI of the reciprocable rod 137 mounted on a bar 138 fixed to the reciprocable and non-rotative head 136.

tion thereof. It will be further apparent that during the dwell periodA of the turnida table l0 a bag is fed to a holder at the station s', a bag is opened at the station s2, and a preceding bag is removed from the holder i* at the station 84 for delivery to the bag filling machine. It will be further apparent that with the provision of our apparat-us the bag holders are definitely stopped in centralized positions at the operating stations and especially at the bag opening station, with the bag opening mechanism so operative that the spoon 77 enters with certainty between the sides 'of the bag and is moved with the regularity and speed desired for eflicient service.

While we have shown our device in the preferred form, it will be obvious that many changes and modiiications may be made in the structure disclosed without departing vfrom the spirit of the invention, defined in the following claims.

i We claim l. In combination with a bag removing means, of a bag opening machine comprising-a carrier, provided with a bag holder, a framework in which the said carrier is journailed for movement through a plurality of operating stations includingl a bag open ing station, a bag opening mechanism mounted independently of said bag removing means and movable into and out of cooperative relation with the holder and a bag therein at such station, and provisions for operating said mechanism including a driving means j ournalled in the framework which supports the said carrier.

2. In combination with a bag removing means of a bag opening machine comprising a turntable provided with a plurality of spacedbag holders, a supporting framework including a central shaft on which the said turntable is rotatable, each holder being movable through a plurality of operating stations including a bag opening station, a bag opening mechanism mounted independently of said bag removing means and reciprocable into and out of cooperative relation with a holder anda baO' therein rat suoli station, and provisions for operating rsaid mechanism including a driving means Journalled in the framework which supports the said turntable.

3. In combination with a bag removing means of a bag opening machine comprising a turntableprovided with a plurality of bag holders thereon, a supporting framework in which the turntable is rotatable, each holder being movable through a bag opening station, a bag opening mechanism mounted independently of said bag removing means and reciprocable towards and from the bag holder at such station for openingl a bag in the holder, guide means in the said framework for guiding the reciprocation of the bag opening mechanism, andprovisions for operating the said mechanism including a driving means journalled in the framework which supports the said turntable.

In combination, a carrier provided with bag holders each movable through a bag receiving station, a bag opening station, and a bag delivery station, bag feeding means for feeding -bags individually to the holders when at said bag receiving station, mechanism at the said bag opening station movable into and out of cooperative relation with a bag holder thereatfor opening a bag in the holder, and provisions for operating the said l' mechanism including a driving means directly connected to said bag feeding means.

5. In a bag opening machine, a carrier provided with a bag holder, a 4framework in which the said carrier is journalled for movement'through a bag opening station, a bag opening mechanism mountcdin said framework and movable into and out ofA cooperative relation with the holder anda bag thereinat said station, and provisions for operating said mechanism including a drive shaft and a crank arm directly connecting the said shaft with the said bag opening mechanism. y

6. ,In a han' opening machine a turntable .n L t; s 7 v provided with a plurality oi' bag holders spaced thereon and each movable througha bag opening station, a framework in which the said turntable is mounted, a bag opening spoon at -such station mounted in said framework for reciprocation into and out of relation with a bag holder, and means for reciprocating the said spoon comprise ing a rotatable shaft, a link connectedto the said spoon, and a crank arm connecting the said shaft and the said link.

7. In a bag opening machine, a.' turntable provided with a plurality of bag holders movable through a plurality ofvoijierating stations, means for intermittently moving the turntable with each holder successivelyv positioned at the said stations, and provisions operative on the said turntable for stopping the same with the holders lcentered at the said stations, the said provisionscomprising a stop rodmovable into and out of the path of m oveineiit of af holder, and operative when moved into said path of iuovement for stopping the said holder in centered position. y

8. In a bag opening machine, a turntable provided with a plurality of bag holders movable through a plurality of operating stations, means for intermittently moving the turntable with eachholder successively positioned at the said stations, and pro` visions operative on the said turntable for stopping the same lwith the holders centered at the said stations, the said provisionsy comprising a stop rod movable into and out 130 of the path of movement of a holder, and

operative when moved into said path of movement for stopping the said holder in centered position, the said stop `rod being adjustable in length.

9. In a bag opening machine, a turntable provided with a plurality of spaced bag holders each movable through a plurality olA operating stations, means for intermittentlyI moving the turntable with the holders successively positioned in the said stations, the said means comprising an oscillating operating lever and elements connected to the said lever for intermittently engaging the said turntable, and provisions operative on the said turntable for stopping the same with a holder centered at an operating station, the said provisions including a stop rod oscillatable with the said lever.

10. In a bag opening machine, a carrier provided with a bag holder movable through a plurality of operating stations including a bag opening station, a bag opening mechanism movable into and out of cooperative relation with a bag holder at said station, the said bag opening mechanismincluding a spoon element mounted for reciprocating and rotating motion, the rotating motion being imparted to the spoon element upon entry into a bag in the holder, and means operative on the said yspoon element after it has partially entered and opened a bag for imparting thereto a quick angular motion to deliver a kick to the bag for opening the samey to fullV capacity. r

1l. In a bag opening machine, a carrier provided with a bag holder movable through a plurality of operating stations including a bag opening station, a rbag opening mechanism movable into and out of cooperative relation with a bag holder at said station, the said bag opening mechanism including a spoon element mounted :tor reciprocating and rotating motion,the rotating motion being imparted to the spoon element upon entry into a bag in the holder, and means operative on the said spoon element after it has partially entered and opened a bag for imparting thereto a quick angular motion to deliver a kick to the bag oropening the same to full capacity, the said means including a cam follower mounted on the said spoon element and a cam track arranged in the path of movement of said cam follower.

l2. In a bag openingmachine, a turntable provided with a plurality of spaced holders arranged thereabout and each movable through a plurality of operating stations including a bag opening station, a .bag

opening mechanism movable into and out otprovided with a plurality of spaced holders arranged thereabout, each holder being movable through a plurality of operating stations including a bagopening station, a bag opening mechanism at the said bag opening lstation comprising a cross bar reciprocable in a vertical direction, an operating spoon roclrably mounted on the said cross bar, a cam follower mounted on the said spoon and spaced from the rocking axis thereof, and a cam track in the path of movement of said cam follower.

. lll. n a bag opening machine, in combination, a bag holder and grippingmeans movable thereon for gripping the side edges of an opened bag in the holder for maintaining the saine open, the said gripping means comprising spaced bell crank levers roclrably mounted on the holder and means for rocking the said levers includinga slide bar connected to the levers, and provisions for re-y ciprocating the slide bar.

l5. ln a bag opening machine, in combination, a bag holder and gripping means movable thereon for gripping the side edges of an opened bag in the holder for maintaining the same open, the said gripping means comprising spaced bell crank levers rockably mounted on the holder and means for rocking the said levers including a slide bar connected to the levers, and provisions for re-l ciprocating the slide bar, said provisions comprising a shaft transversely journalled in the holder, an arm connecting the shaft with the slide bar, and reversely arranged actuating arms 'fixed to the shaft.

`Signed at Middletown, in the county of Butler and State of Ohio, this 6th day of June, A. D. 1922.

OSCAR N. RITCHIE. H. C. BOYKIN. 

